Dental advise required
Author
Discussion

dogmatic6

Original Poster:

60 posts

162 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
quotequote all
Hi there,

I'm looking for some advise. My two front upper teeth are post crowns which I've had since I was a teenager (I'm now 41)
These now need replaced but I have an infection above one of them which has also been there for around 20yrs! It has never bothered me although I can feel a lump at the top of the gum and it is tender.

My dentist won't replace the crown without sorting the infection so he has referred me to an oral surgery clinic for an Apicoectomy. Do you think this is needed seeing as I've had this for over 20yrs and it's never gotten worse?

Also, my bottom front tooth was root treated when I was a teenager because of an abscess which killed the tooth. I've had a veneer on the tooth for 10yrs but lost it. My dentist wants to crown the tooth but there is a bit of broken needle stuck in the root. This has also been there for over 20yrs. My dentist refused to replace the veneer and has referred me to dental hospital so the needle can be removed and the tooth crowned. Does this sound right?

Any advise would be appreciated smile

Cheers

Mark
Ps don't YouTube Apicoectomy wink

dogmatic6

Original Poster:

60 posts

162 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
quotequote all
Sorry, meant to post this in Health matters!

grumbledoak

32,565 posts

262 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
quotequote all
So, you didn't like your dentist's advice and you are asking for a second opinion on a motoring forum? Gotta love the Internet!

Do it properly or not at all is my view generally. Your dentist's advice sounded pretty good to me. yes

dogmatic6

Original Poster:

60 posts

162 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
quotequote all

There are a few dentists on here so that's why I posted smile

I

SV8Predator

2,102 posts

194 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
quotequote all
dogmatic6 said:
There are a few dentists on here so that's why I posted smile

I
Yes, and they will know more than your current dentist even though they haven't seen the X-rays or your dental history.

evoivboy

986 posts

175 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
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FlossyThePig

4,143 posts

272 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
quotequote all
dogmatic6 said:
...don't YouTube Apicoectomy...
Why not? I had, what two of my brothers refer to as an apicectomy, when I was seventeen, without anaesthetic.

They are both dentists.

There is at least one professional toothpuller that frequents this forum but I doubt if he would give advice about another dentist's work and guidance.

As this is PH, would you want an car resprayed without rust being removed and any damage repaired?

dogmatic6

Original Poster:

60 posts

162 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
quotequote all
FlossyThePig said:
Why not? I had, what two of my brothers refer to as an apicectomy, when I was seventeen, without anaesthetic.

They are both dentists.

There is at least one professional toothpuller that frequents this forum but I doubt if he would give advice about another dentist's work and guidance.

As this is PH, would you want an car resprayed without rust being removed and any damage repaired?
That's a good analogy smile. I will probably follow my dentists advise. It's just I've had these two issues for over 20yrs so they are obviously stable. I just didn't want to make things worse which could lead to the teeth being extracted if it all went wrong frown

Just a bit worried and was obviously going to go to another dentist for a second opinion.

Thanks for the advise so far.

Cheers


MacGee

2,513 posts

259 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
quotequote all
Your dentist wont crown over a poor foundation. Cos if it flares up you'll blame him. Follow his advice.

I bet the 2 brothers didnt have apicectomies done without local. Not a chance. Involves scalpel cutting a flap and peeling back. Bone temoval and scraping then stitches. Nope!

Driller

8,310 posts

307 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
What MacGee says.

I would cut off the crown, remove the post and redo the root treatment from above. Then redo crown.

dogma6

Original Poster:

60 posts

162 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
Driller said:
What MacGee says.

I would cut off the crown, remove the post and redo the root treatment from above. Then redo crown.
Thank you Driller and MacGee for your advise!! I'm 95% going ahead with the treatmeant.

I'm just conecerned about the apicoectomy procedure frown I guess I need to man up lol

Thanks again.

Hoofy

79,993 posts

311 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
MacGee said:
Your dentist wont crown over a poor foundation. Cos if it flares up you'll blame him. Follow his advice.

I bet the 2 brothers didnt have apicectomies done without local. Not a chance. Involves scalpel cutting a flap and peeling back. Bone temoval and scraping then stitches. Nope!

Edition87

585 posts

168 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
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Advised not to YouTube Apicoectomy

Proceed to YouTube Apicoectomy

Instant regret. weeping

Hoofy

79,993 posts

311 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
The google images was bad enough.

Pugsey

5,821 posts

243 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
An apicectomy is a piece of cake - WITH ANESTHESIA! No dental procedure is fun but if you feel any actual pain your Dentist is doing something badly wrong. Be aware that it's not a guaranteed procedure though - especially if previous work (eg.root canal) has been done badly. I've had three over the years and still lost two of those teeth. Had implants then which are great - if expensive!

Good luck!


DavesFlaps

683 posts

220 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
OP - I've been in a similar situation to you.

I've had the apicoectomy, which was most unpleasant.

The underlying infection meant the local anaesthetic didn't work properly (so they told me), which added to the experience.

If you decide to go down that route and are offered some sort of sedative - TAKE IT. Regrettably, I didn't

However - it was successful and the relatively short period of living hell was worth it.

dogma6

Original Poster:

60 posts

162 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
DavesFlaps said:
OP - I've been in a similar situation to you.

I've had the apicoectomy, which was most unpleasant.

The underlying infection meant the local anaesthetic didn't work properly (so they told me), which added to the experience.

If you decide to go down that route and are offered some sort of sedative - TAKE IT. Regrettably, I didn't

However - it was successful and the relatively short period of living hell was worth it.
thanks Pugset and DavesFlaps smile The procedure itself isnt bothering me too much as I'm assuming I wont really feel much. Its the recovery that bothers me with regards to pain, swelling and stitches being in for a couple of weeks....lol How long did it take to recover?

Its the front upper tooth so probably a simple procedure but I understand the risks involved.

Cheers


Pugsey

5,821 posts

243 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
dogma6 said:
DavesFlaps said:
OP - I've been in a similar situation to you.

I've had the apicoectomy, which was most unpleasant.

The underlying infection meant the local anaesthetic didn't work properly (so they told me), which added to the experience.

If you decide to go down that route and are offered some sort of sedative - TAKE IT. Regrettably, I didn't

However - it was successful and the relatively short period of living hell was worth it.
thanks Pugset and DavesFlaps smile The procedure itself isnt bothering me too much as I'm assuming I wont really feel much. Its the recovery that bothers me with regards to pain, swelling and stitches being in for a couple of weeks....lol How long did it take to recover?

Its the front upper tooth so probably a simple procedure but I understand the risks involved.

Cheers
Last one I had was above a front upper canine. Puffy face (slight) for couple of days. Bit of aching for the day/night after and that was it. Take anti inflams/pain relief BEFORE procedure. Gums heal AMAZINGLY fast. Eg.,a few years ago I had three implants along the front top of my mouth and that's WAY more invasive - basically the whole of you upper gum is flapped back across the entire width of your mouth - and that was ok after just a few days. I really wouldn't worry - I'd be amazed if you even took the next day off work for this frankly.

DavesFlaps

683 posts

220 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
Yup.

I went back to work straight after the procedure . The pain had gone within a couple of days as I recall.

dogma6

Original Poster:

60 posts

162 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
Pugsey said:
Last one I had was above a front upper canine. Puffy face (slight) for couple of days. Bit of aching for the day/night after and that was it. Take anti inflams/pain relief BEFORE procedure. Gums heal AMAZINGLY fast. Eg.,a few years ago I had three implants along the front top of my mouth and that's WAY more invasive - basically the whole of you upper gum is flapped back across the entire width of your mouth - and that was ok after just a few days. I really wouldn't worry - I'd be amazed if you even took the next day off work for this frankly.
Thanks Pugsey smile thats the sort of feedback I was looking for. I feel a 'little' better about it now...lol